Apparatus for concentrating ores.



e. E. OHRN. APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, I913.

Patented June 20, 1916.

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' steam pipe and havlng a GUSTAF EMIL @IIRN,

, APPARATUS FOR CONCENTRATING ORES.

antra.

Application filed October 4., 1913. Serial No. 793,270.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GUs'rAr EMIL OHRN,subject of the King of Sweden, and residing at Lidingo', Stockholm,Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatusfor Concentrating Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to apparatus forconcentrating ores and, it refers more particularly to apparatus forcarrying into efiect the agitation froth process of ore concentration.

In the United granted November 6th, 1906, 96267 8 granted June 28th,1910, and 1064723 granted June 17th, 1913, processes have been describedwhich consist in agitating the ore mixed with water with a minuteproportion of a mineral frothing agent in such a manner as to beat inair; in certain cases acid may be added to the mixture of ore, water andfrothing agent. In the prior Patents Nos. 979857 and 1064209 apparatuseshave been described for carrying such processes into effect and theagitation has been produced by mechanical agitators.

It is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus in whichmechanical agitators are dispensed with.

According to this invention apparatus for concentrating ores comprisesin combination a pulp vessel, a hopper for the crushed ore whose outletis below face of the water in the pulp vessel, a steam pipe in thehopper forming with it an injector and a launder for removing the frothas it overflows from the pulp vessel.

The mineral frothing agent is preferably supplied to the ore by a steaminjector and in the preferred form of apparatus it is supplied through apipe arranged in the funnel shaped exthe steam pipe, the frothing agentpassing into the funnel shaped extension from a reservoir. The steampipe acts with the pipe supplying the agent as an injector fordelivering tension. outside 0F LIDI'NG6, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR' T0MINERALS SEPARATION LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

States Patents Nos. 835120,

the surthe agent to the ore Patented June 20, 1910..

and at the same time-it acts as an air injector, the air being drawn inwith the frothing agent through the funnel shaped extension of thesupply pipe. A cone of wood, metal or other material may be arranged inthe pulp vessel below the outlet from the hopper to distribute the orepulp as it issues therefrom. It is found convenient to arrange below thesurface of the liquid in the pulp vessel a water spray in such positionthat streams of water issue from it and meet the rising mineral froth.

The hopper may be arranged with a portion of its periphery on a levelwith theoverflow lip fromthe pulp vessel. so that a part of the frothoverflows into the hopper and is submitted to a retreatment; also thepulp vessel may be divided by a partition extending nearly to thebottom, the hopper and overflow lip for the concentrates being arrangedfor the water carrying the gangue slimes on the other side of thepartition. In this latter case the outflow for the gangue slimes isarranged at a level just below the level of the overflow lip for theconcentrates.

Forms of apparatus according to this invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 shows anapparatus in which the hopper is arranged with a portion of itsperiphery on a level with the overflow lip for the concentrates. Fig. 2shows a modification in which the pulp vessel is divided by a partitionand Fig. 3 shows a further modification in which a guide plate isarranged under the. outlet of the hopper.

Like letters refer to like-parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1 a pulp vessel A is provided with a hopper B whoseoutlet C is below the level of the water therein. In the hopper B isarranged a steam pipe D which with the hopper constitutes an injector.Within the steam pipe D and pass ing through it is arranged a small pipeE on one side of the partition 7 -under having a funnel shaped extensionF outside the steam pipe. A cone G of Wood, metal or other material isarranged with its apex the outlet 0 from the hopper. The pulpvessel isprovided with an overflow lip H, a launder J, and an outlet'K at thebottom for the tailings. A water spray L is arranged under the surfaceof the water. in the pulp vessel to direct streams of water on the frothas it rises to the surface.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 the pulp vessel A is divided by apartition Q which extends nearly ,to the bottom, the hopper B beingarranged on one side of it and the concentrates launder J into which athe froth flows over overflow lips H exof the overflow lip H tendingacross the middle of the box. On the other side of the partition anoutlet M is provided for the water carrying the gangue slimes.

Referring now to Fig.3, the hopper B is supported on a shelf N and underthe outlet C is arranged a bafile O to direct the ore mixture toward thesurface of the liquid in the pulp vessel. vA partition P is alsoprovided extending upward from the wall of the pulp vessel to a pointjust below that for the concentrates.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The'crushed ore'is fedinto the hopper B, either dry or preferably mixed with water in the formof pulp. Steam under 7 pressure is supplied to the steam pipe D and afrothing agent,

V011 into the funnel shaped opening F of the pipe E. The steam passingthrough the pipe D acts with the frothing agent supply pipe E as aninjector and sucks in. frothing agent and air, and it also acts with thehopper B as an injector forcing the ore pulp together with the frothingagent through the outlet G into the pulp vessel. The steam attached tothe air" bubbles rise they meet jet causes a thorough agitation-of themixture which is forced under the surface of the water in the pulp erousparticles become attached to thebubbles of air mixed into the ore pulpby the action of the steamjet and are carried by them to the surface.The guide plate 0 shown inFig. 3 guides the agitated mixture toward thesurface. As the mineral coated jets of water issuing from the sprayLwhich help'to remove any particles of gangue which may have becomebubbles. The gangue "sinks to the bottom of the pulpvessel and I isremoved through the outlet K and-the The water containing .underthe-dividing metalliferous particles 'in the: form of acopious froth,overflow'over the lip H intoi the launder fJ from Which-they areremoved.

partition Q ,over the lip of the short partition P and away through theoutlet M. When necessary acid such as such for example as ole 1c acid,is allowed to drip from a reserand air, and

vessel. .The-metallif-.

and .under the outlet from the hopper to distribute the ore mixture, andmeans for regangue slimes flows What I claim to be my invention anddesire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an injector nozzlein the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form with suchoutlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, and meansfor removing the froth from the pulp vessel.

2. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an. injector nozzlein the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form with suchoutlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, a pipe forsupplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed ore so arranged thatthe steam pipe forms therewith an injector for the frothing agent andair, and means for removing the froth from the pulp vessel.

3. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a 9

.pulp vessel, a pipe for supplying a frothing agent and air to the crushl ore arranged inside the steam pipe and having a funnel-shapedextension outside the steam pipe so that the steam pipe forms with thesaid pipe an injector for the frothing agent means for removing thefroth from the pulp vessel.

4. Apparatus for concentrating ore comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the. crushed ore having an outlet in the pulpvessel below the liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an injectornozzle in the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to formwith such outlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, apipe for supplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed ore arrangedinside thev steam pipe and having a funnel-shaped extension outside thesteam pipe so that the steam pipe forms with the said pipe an injectorfor the frothing agent air, a cone-shaped device arranged moving thefroth from the pulp vessel. 5. Apparatus for concentrating orecomprising, in combination, a pulp vessel, a hopper for the crushed orehaving an out- -ranged that the steam pipe let in the pulp vessel belowthe liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an injector nozzle in thehopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form with such outlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, a water sprayin the pulp vessel below the surface of the liquid and in proximity tothe outlet from the hopper arranged to spray the froth as it forms andrises tothe surface, and means for removing the froth as it overflowsfrom the pulp vessel.

6. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in'the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an injector nozzlein the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form with suchoutlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, a pipe forsupplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed ore so arformstherewith' an injector for the frothing agent and air, a water spray inthe pulp vessel below the surface of the liquid and in proximity to theoutlet from the hopper arranged to spray the froth as it forms andsurface, and means for removing the'froth from the pulp vessel.

7. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein, a steam pipe having an injector nozzlein the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form with suchoutlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel, a pipe forsupplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed ore arranged insidethe steam pipe and having a funnelshaped extension that the steam pipeforms with the said prising,

' let an injector for therein, a steam pipe pipe an injector for thefrothing agent and air, a water spray in the pulp vessel below thesurface of the liquid and in proximity to the outlet from the hopperarranged to spray the froth as it forms and rises to the surface, andmeans for removing from the pulp vessel.

8. Apparatus for concentrating ore comin combination, a pulp vessel, ahopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vessel below theliquid level having an injector nozzle in the hopper in proximity to theoutlet thereof so as to form with such outfeeding the ore into the pulpvessel, a pipe for supplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed orearranged inside the steam pipe and having a funnela cone-shaped devicearranged underthe rises to the the pulp outside the steam pipe so thefroth.

llf-Illl outlet from the hopper todistribute the ore mixture, a waterspray in the pulp vessel below the surface of the liquid and inproximity to the outlet from the hopper arranged to spray the froth asit forms and arises to the surface,-and means for removing the frothfrom the pulp vessel.

9. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein arranged with a port on a level with adischarge lip of the pulp vessel, a steam pipe having an injector'noz-'zle in'the hopper in proximity to the outlet thereof so as to form withsuch outlet an injector for feeding the ore into the pulp vessel,,a pipefor supplying a frothing agent and air to the crushed ore arranged,inside the steam pipe having a funnel-shaped extension outside the.steam pipe so that the steam pipe forms with the said pipe an injector,for the frothing means for removing the vessel.

10. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein arranged with a portion of its peripheryon a level with the discharge lip of the pulp vessel, a steam pipehaving an injector nozzle in the hopper in proximity to the outletthereof so as to form with such outlet an injector for feeding the oreinto vessel, a water spray in the pulp vessel, below the surface tf theliquid and in proximity to the outlet from the hopper arranged to spraythe froth as it forms and rises to the surface, and means for removagentand air, an froth from'the pulp ing the froth as it 'verflows from thepulp vessel.

11. Apparatus for concentrating ore comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel, a hopper for the crushed ore having an outlet in the pulp vesselbelow the liquid level therein arranged with a portion of its peripheryon of the pulp injector nozzle in the hopperin proximity to the outletthereof so as to' form with the outlet an injector for feeding the oreinto the pulp vessel, a cone-shaped device arranged under the outletfrom thehopper to -dis tribute the ore mixture, a water spray "in thepulp vessel Below the surface of the liquid and in proximity to theoutlet from the hopper arranged to spray the froth as it forms andarises to the surface, and means forremoving the froth as it overflowsfrom the pulp vessel.

12. Apparatus for concentrating ores comprising, in combination, a pulpvessel divided by a partition extending nearly to the l sttom, a hopperfor the crushed ore ion of its periphery a level with the discharge lipvessel, a steam pipe having an" liquid level therein,

having an outlet in the pulp Vessel below the a steam pipe having an:injector nozzle, in the hopper injproximity v. to the outlet thereof soas to form with such outlet an injector for, feeding the ore into thepulp vessel, a pipe for supplying a frothing agent and air to thecrushed ore arrangedinside the steam pipe and having a funnel-shapedextension outside the steam pipe so that the steam pipe forms with the

